2026-10-25 · 5 min read

What to charge for your first brand deal

A simple way to price your first sponsored post without guessing, and the three mistakes that make new creators undercharge.

The first time a brand writes to you, the hardest question is not whether to say yes. It is what to say when they ask for your rate. Most new creators pick a number that feels safe and then regret it.

Price the work, not your follower count

Follower count is a weak guide when you are small. A better starting point is the work itself. Add up how long the deal will really take: planning, filming, editing, posting and replying to comments. Multiply that by what an hour of your time is worth to you.

Then add the rights

• Usage: will the brand reuse your video in their own ads? If yes, charge more.
• Exclusivity: if you cannot work with their competitors for a while, that has a price.
• Revisions: say how many rounds are included before you charge extra.

Three mistakes to avoid

• Quoting a number in the first message before you know what they want.
• Working without a written agreement, even for a small deal.
• Forgetting payment terms. Write down when you get paid, and chase it the day it is late.

Keep a simple record of every deal: what was agreed, what you delivered and when the money arrived. After a few deals you will know your real hourly rate, and that is the number that matters.

The Earn tools in the Startell app are built around exactly this: a starting price, a deal tracker with late-payment reminders, a contract check and a media kit.